MELVILLE, NY — Long Islanders are being asked to step up their water conservation efforts by the Long Island Water Conference (LIWC).

The LIWC, an organization of 50 water providers in the region, asked residents to cut back on irrigation usage because of the high heat and low precipitation conditions.

Water systems on Long Island are struggling to meet peak demand during the hot stretch and facing the possibility of reduced pressure because of a 400 percent increase in demand, the LIWC stated. The organization pointed to the overuse of irrigation systems as the primary reason.

Residents were "implored" by the organization to follow the guidance of their local water provider to make sure enough water and pressure are available in the event of a fire emergency.

“We urge all Long Islanders to take the restrictions put in place by water providers seriously as excessive irrigation use can put fire protection at risk due to limited water availability and pressure,” LIWC Chairman Kevin Durk stated. “As a region, we must prioritize allowing firefighters to successfully do their jobs over the desire to have a perfect green lawn. There are no significant water shortages, but the issue remains that our infrastructure can only carry so much water at any given time. We owe our community, neighbors and those responsible for running into fires the courtesy of ensuring they have the water they need when an emergency situation arises.”

The LIWC asked residents to take these measures:

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul recently expanded the state-wide drought watch to portions of Long Island.

"While Long Island is not experiencing a water shortage, the fact remains that there are a limited number of supply wells throughout Long Island to draw the water from the ground," the LIWC stated. "Long Island’s water infrastructure is vast; however, it struggles to keep up with the fourfold increase in demand for water in these weather conditions while also keeping storage tanks full. In addition to providing the water needs for Long Island residents, keeping storage tanks full is crucial to ensuring there is adequate supply and pressure when firefighters have to respond to an emergency."

Water conservation also keeps lawns healthier, the organization said, for they are incredibly resilient and only require an inch of water per week to remain healthy. Overwatering promotes shallow root development, which makes lawns more susceptible to burning and drought, according to the LIWC. To avoid your lawn burning, maintain shortened irrigation cycles and keep the cut length of the lawn high at approximately three inches, the organization wrote.

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